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While also announcing iOS 5, Apple's newest mobile platform, Apple pulled the curtain back on iCloud (who saw that name coming?) at this week's Worldwide Developer Conference. The iCloud is a service that allows documents, applications and media to be stored in the Internet cloud.
The service looks to battle Amazon's Cloud Drive, Google's cloud storage via Google Docs and Microsoft's SkyDrive by providing 5 GB of free storage that can be shared to 10 iOS devices, PCs and Macs. Also, any music, digital books and applications purchased through Apple can be stored using the service without taking away from the allotted 5 GB.
Those with a non-Apple smartphones and tablets are out of luck when trying to access any of the content. But with multiple options for free cloud-based storage, it's not hard to find competing products that will work on whatever device you have.
While this service looks to be optimal for those who have purchased the majority of their media through iTunes, Apple's entry into consumer cloud storage doesn't seem to look too appealing for those who buy or obtain their media from other sources. Chances are, they've already found a suitable option, and there will be little benefit to go through the uploading process once again.
Do you use any of the free cloud storage services available? What's your favorite? Let Doug know at [email protected]
--By Chris Paoli
Posted by Doug Barney on 06/08/2011 at 1:18 PM
Microsoft acknowledged that its emerging AI-based Bing search could affect content publisher revenue models, but also suggested that it is willing to talk terms.
Microsoft gave notice to organizations using perpetual-license Office versions about a coming 2023 milestone that could result in iffy Microsoft 365 services connections in this Wednesday announcement.
Microsoft's ongoing layoffs are hitting its home turf, with new notices affecting 1,248 people in the Redmond, Bellevue and Issaquah, Wash. areas in May.
Microsoft on Tuesday announced a new predictive language chat tool for security experts called Microsoft Security Copilot.
Microsoft announced on Monday that it has rebuilt and improved the performance of its Microsoft Teams application, and released a preview of this "new" app for commercial Windows users.
More Tech Library


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During its 2021 final quarter financial results conference call, automaker General Motors, led by CEO Marry Barra, made several major announcements related to the future of the American giant’s multiple brands.
The figurehead was keen to congratulate the team behind Project Cruise, the first fully autonomous, driverless vehicles to hit the streets of San Francisco in November. So far, the pilot project has racked up no less than 20,000 miles and 600 trips. With new users signing up, the Cruise project is entering an even more crucial learning phase, as the company expects to generate more than $50 billion in revenue annually by the end of the decade.
Mary Barra also said GM wants to reach the milestone of 400,000 electric vehicles sold by 2023 in North America. Investments in the order of $35 billion in the development of electric technology and autonomous vehicles are expected to result in the introduction of as many as 30 electric models worldwide by 2025.
Just a week ago, General Motors confirmed that its Orion Township assembly plant in Michigan would be converted to mass production of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra electric pickup trucks, without saying anything more about the future of the Bolt/Bolt EUV tandem, the two cars that are – or were – assembled at that plant. In addition, a battery production plant will be built in collaboration with LG Energy Solution in Lansing, Michigan. There will even be a third production plant to increase the manufacturer’s production rate.
The goal of these investments is to reach a production capacity of one million electric vehicles per year, including 600,000 full-size pickup trucks. The same production targets are planned for the Chinese market. Mary Barra even indicated that a production capacity of one million vehicles would not be sufficient to meet the anticipated demand for electric vehicles by the middle of this decade.
Meanwhile, the Brightdrop project has reportedly already accumulated more than 25,000 reservations, with GM also wanting to participate in this new electric commercial vehicle movement. The CAMI plant will begin assembling these vans in 2022.
So far, no less than 59,000 consumers have reserved a copy of the GMC Hummer EV or its utility vehicle, while 110,000 people have registered their names to reserve a copy of the Chevrolet Silverado EV. As for the Cadillac Lyriq, whose first deliveries are scheduled for March, a second round of reservations is expected right after the launch of First Edition liveries in March.
Finally, it was learned that a more affordable electric vehicle than the Chevrolet Equinox EV is already in the works, which is great news for drivers who want to go electric but can’t afford to drive a GMC Hummer EV. Perhaps this statement from Ms. Barra means that the future of the Chevrolet Bolt is in jeopardy.

domain: news


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ABN Amro, which is slated to take a 58% stake in the combined company, wouldn’t disclose financial details of the deal. The combined company will operate under the Artemis name.
ABN Amro has been at the center of speculation over a possible purchase or partnership in the UK with an asset management company after two of its top fund managers left.
Artemis Chief Executive Mark Tyndall will be head of the merged company, which will operate Edinburgh and London offices.
Artemis’ fund management team will assume investment management responsibility for the combined product lineup, ABN Amro said. ABN Amro said the enlarged company would include its sales and marketing team.
« Survey Says: Benefits That Work


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Ghost Recon Breakpoint Survey Shows the Changes Players Want Most
Ghost Recon Breakpoint players have maid their voices heard when asked by Ubisoft what they’d [...]
Ghost Recon Breakpoint players have maid their voices heard when asked by Ubisoft what they'd like to see changed in the game. Breakpoint experienced a lackluster launch, but as one of many games-as-a-service titles, Ubisoft has committed to providing new content periodically in the Ghost Recon game and asked players what they'd like to see happen to create a better experience. Responses included adding AI teammates and removing online requirements while the majority of players who participated in the survey asked for new story content.
Ubisoft published the results of its Breakpoint survey this week to show what players have been asking for after the survey was administered weeks ago. Prefacing the results by saying that "some of the elements are not quick fixes" and features and changes may take a while to happen, Ubisoft shared infographics that showed what the results of the survey looked like.
For the "Most Requested Changes/Fixes" portion of the survey, more than half of the players surveyed said adding AI teammates was among their top five most wanted topics. Over 35% of players said they wanted gear scores and tiered loot removed, wanted enemy AI improvements, and wanted the ability to sell all their weapons and gear at once. Just behind that percentage, over 30% of players said they wanted online requirements removed.
We are happy to share with you the results of the Community Survey. Once again, thank you all for your continued support and feedback.
Survey results and updates from the Studio >> https://t.co/ckGf68cSlL pic.twitter.com/fob9vIr1Pj— Ghost Recon (@GhostRecon) November 29, 2019
Responding to the requests about the removal of gear scores and tiered loot, Ubisoft referenced the letter to players it published recently which promised a "more radical and immersive" version of Breakpoint that's coming early next year. The option to sell all your stuff at once was also slated for early next year.
As for the new content that players want to see, the biggest request by was for more story content with over 70% of players ranking that high on their lists. More than 60% of players said they wanted new weapons, a staple in any kind of game like this, and over half of the players surveyed said they wanted more character customization options and more gunsmith customizations.
"Our first story content update will be released in December with the Terminator Live Event," Ubisoft said about its story content plans. "In addition to these Live Events, we will also have the upcoming Adventures (Deep State and Transcendence) for Episode 2 and 3 of Year 1 respectively."
The full results of the survey go much deeper into everything from customizations to enemy types to the new raids which were just released, and you can see those full results here.


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Feb 14, 2016
As many analysts predict, next-generation virtual reality technology promises to change our lives.
From manufacturing to medicine, from entertainment to learning, there is no economic or cultural sector that is immune from the VR revolution.
According to a recent report from Digi-Capital, the augmented/virtual reality market could hit $150B revenue by 2020, with augmented reality projected to reach $120B and virtual reality $30B.
Still, there are a lot of unanswered questions concerning the potential negative effects of virtual reality on the human brain. For example, we know very little about the consequences of prolonged immersion in a virtual world.
Most of scientific virtual reality experiments carried out so far have lasted for short time intervals (typically, less than an hour). However, we don’t know what are the potential side effects of being “immersed” for a 12-hour virtual marathon. When one looks at today’s headsets, it might seem unlikely that people will spend so much time wearing them, because they are still ergonomically poor. Furthermore, most virtual reality contents available on the market are not exploiting the full narrative potential of the medium, which can go well beyond a “virtual Manhattan skyride”.
But as soon as usability problems will be fixed, and 3D contents will be compelling and engaging enough, the risk of “3D addiction” may be around the corner. Most importantly, risks of virtual reality exposure are not limited to adults, but especially endanger adolescents’ and children’s health. Given the widespread use of smartphones among kids, it is likely that virtual reality games will become very popular within this segment.
Given that Zuckerberg regards virtual reality as the next big thing after video for Facebook (in March 2014 his corporation bought Oculus VR in a deal worth $2 billion), perhaps he might also consider investing some of these resources for supporting research on the health risks that are potentially associated with this amazing and life-changing technology.


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Kentucky’s Farms to Food Banks program increased the types of produce purchased from farmers in 2019.
It also began a new project to freeze some items that were sent along to food banks.
Farms to Food Banks buys what’s sometimes called “ugly produce.” It’s healthy, but not perfect enough in appearance to be sold to grocery stores.
The program pays farmers enough to cover the cost of labor, packaging and transportation, and keeps the imperfect produce from going to waste.
Sarah Vaughn, programs coordinator for Feeding Kentucky, said the program bought 22 types of produce in 2018, with that figure increasing to 28 varieties in 2019.


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According to Sawyer Merritt and Teslascope Tesla is in active development of an app store for its vehicles. The app store is rumored to be released before the first Cybertrucks are delivered.
Concept designer DeleetDesigns has even designed what a Tesla app store could look like.
What a Tesla app store can look like
Having a Tesla app store is certainly an interesting concept, and I certainly believe Tesla is working on one, but it may not be what you think it is.
The concept by DeleetDesigns is well-executed and it brings some interesting ideas to the table like letting you charge items to your Tesla account.
However, it leads us to believe that a Tesla app store will be similar to Apple's or Google's versions.
I'm not sure apps like Burger King, Slack, Twitter, and others are great candidates for the Tesla app store.
There are only about 2 million Teslas. While it's certainly impressive what Tesla has been able to accomplish, that's only about 0.0016% of all the active iPhones in the world. What this means is that developers wouldn't put as much money and time into their Tesla app versions. And after they're developed, they'll quickly fall behind their smartphone counterparts.
Tesla could avoid this issue by letting users run Android apps, similar to how you could run Andorid apps on some Chromebooks, but most of these apps don't scale well to larger screens, especially a 15 or 17-inch screen.
It'll always be easier to scroll through something like Twitter on your phone than it is on a screen that's an arm's length away from you. It's also more convenient to type on a phone than it is to peck at an on-screen keyboard.
What We Think the Tesla App Store Will Be
We know that Tesla is working on an app store, and here's what we think it'll be like.
Instead of being an app store similar to Apple's that allows developers to make any kind of app, we think Tesla will be limiting the apps to the ones that are well suited for use in a car.
It's expensive to create the framework required to create an app store, especially one that allows apps to be as versatile as phone apps are today. Why should Tesla go through all that work for developers to create apps that few people will use?
How often do find yourself wanting to use your TV instead of your smartphone? Even for some video apps like TikTok, it doesn't make a lot of sense. It's just easier to swipe on your phone.
Many set-top boxes can run all sorts of apps, but most people don't want to shop on Amazon or browser Facebook on their TV.
Instead, they want to use their TV for apps that can provide an experience their phone isn't able to. Apps that allow them to stream video on a larger screen, like Netflix, or exercise with apps like Peloton or Apple Fitness+, or maybe even share a slideshow for the family. What we're not doing is responding to emails or Slack messages on the TV, or even looking at stock quotes. That kind of stuff is much more suited for a phone.
Although Tesla has one of the best infotainment systems of any vehicle, it can't compete with a device that you upgrade every few years. A device that has a faster connection, higher resolution screen, more storage, easier payment authentication, and a faster processor.
A Tesla app will be successful when can leverage the benefits a Tesla can provide over your phone; a bigger screen and integration with your Tesla.
Tesla won't bother creating APIs for developers to build apps that aren't well suited for a Tesla.
Instead, Tesla will focus their efforts on building developer tools that will allow anyone to create apps that will excel in a Tesla. These apps will be for things such as SiriusXM and Apple Music. It could be video streaming apps like YouTube TV and Amazon Prime Video.
These apps will integrate seamlessly into your Tesla UI, just like DeleetDesigns illustrates in his concept.
What if Tesla had an app store? I put together this prototype to see what it might be like. What apps would you want to see?
The Tesla app store would let developers port additional games to Teslas as well, giving owners even more gaming options.
Creating an app store will be a huge win for Tesla. There are a lot of entertainment options out there and Tesla can't keep up with all the latest streaming services.
By creating an app store and APIs for developers, Tesla can offload the development of these apps to other companies. It'll allow companies like Apple to create Apple Music for your Tesla, it'll allow SiriusXM can create a streaming SiriusXM app. This will free up Tesla's engineers' time and give owners the apps they're looking for.
Most Teslas have relatively small hard drives, so they're not capable of storing apps endless amounts of video streaming apps and games. By creating an app store, users could install only the apps and games that are relevant to them. This will help free up space taken up games or apps the owner may not use today.
To run apps similar to our smartphones and tablets, Teslas would require a more capable processor than the one used in most Teslas. It'd likely only be available for Teslas with MCU 3, which would exclude almost all Teslas manufactured so far.
However, if the app store was limited to games, video, and audio streaming apps, then it could be available for MCU 2 vehicles as well.
All of the video streaming apps in Teslas today are just full-screen versions of the app's website. Having developers create native experiences for Netflix, YouTube and others would make these apps much more responsive than they are today.
We know that Tesla is creating an app store that will likely be released in the coming year. The app store will benefit Tesla and Tesla owners alike, but we may have to alter our expectations of what a Tesla app store will be.
Tesla notified the NHTSA that it will update its automatic widnow system
Tesla will soon send an over-the-air update to address the Automatic Window Reversal System. During product testing in mid-August, the company's technicians detected the system varied in response to obstructions in the window path. After more testing, Tesla concluded that it would notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a voluntary recall to address the issue.
The majority of Tesla's recalls are much different than traditional automotive recalls. Tesla owners don't have to schedule an appointment and bring the vehicle to a service department. Instead, the company will update nearly 1.1 million Teslas using an over-the-air update. However, several news organizations picked up the recall, some linking it to the lower stock price when the market closed. Elon Musk tweeted: The terminology is outdated & inaccurate. This is a tiny over-the-air software update. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no injuries.
The recall and Musk's tweet generated a lot of discussions on social media and in comments below articles on news websites. What Tesla is doing is not a recall in traditional terms. However, it is the only course of action available to the company in the current system to notify the government and owners of required changes.
With more of the automotive industry following Tesla's lead, the recall term will be misleading as most fixes to electric vehicles should be conducted through updates, not physically bringing the car to a service center to change parts. A more fitting term that should replace recall in this new EV world should be: update. The headlines would read, Tesla is Updating its Automatic Window Reversal System. That is much more accurate to what is happening. It should surprise no one that Tesla does not fit the archaic terminology used by the industry.
In a report filed with the NHTSA, Tesla states that it "is not aware of any warranty claims, field reports, crashed, injuries or deaths related to this condition." However, starting September 13, the company started updating vehicles' firmware in pre-delivery and one production line. This change came one day after notifying the federal authorities about the voluntary recall. The over-the-air update will go to Model Xs, and Model Ss built between 2021 and 2022; Model Ys produced from 2020 to 2022 and Model 3s dating back to when the car first hit the market in 2017.
Tesla's next update will be update 2022.36 instead of 2022.32. Tesla's version naming is based on the year and the week number. So update 2022.36 would have been started around the 36th week of 2022.
Tesla traditionally releases an update every four weeks, but sometimes updates can take longer to develop, test, or fix bugs, causing the version number to fall behind the calendar.
Although it doesn't happen too often, Tesla has skipped update version numbers in the past.
Given that we're now in the 39th week of the year, Tesla has chosen to skip version 2022.32 and jump directly to 2022.36.
Update 2022.36 is right around the corner and we're now having our first look at the features included in this update.
Tesla is adding support for a new language bringing its total to well beyond 20 now. Update 2022.36 introduces Lithuanian as a supported language for the vehicle's on-screen controls.
About two years ago Tesla added the ability to notify you via your mobile phone if the car doors, trunk or windows were left open.
With 2022.32 they're adding on to this feature and will now notify you if the car has been left unlocked.
If you have the walk-away lock feature turned on your vehicle automatically locks when you walk away if you're using a phone key or key fob. You also have the option to exclude locking when at home.
When tapping on a Supercharger icon on the vehicle's navigation system will reveal a pop-up that displays additional information about that Supercharger location.
Tesla already shows you the number of stalls available, the price and available amenities at the location.
With 2022.36 Tesla has redesigned the pop-up and will display historical usage for each Supercharger location.
It appears that Tesla will display typical usage for the location by providing an hourly analysis of how busy the Supercharger typically is at certain times of the day.
This feature should let us easily view the busiest times at Superchargers, letting us plan our charging stops a little better.
New Energy Graph
The biggest feature of 2022.36 is by far a new energy graph.
Tesla has made tremendous improvements around its energy predictions in the last few updates and although they haven't changed the UI of the energy graph, it has resulted in much more accurate predictions that now take wind, humidity, the number of occupants, phone charging and more into account when predicting energy usage.
With 2022.36 Tesla delivers a brand new energy app that shows much more detail on how the vehicle is using energy.
The new Model S and Model X haven't had the energy graph available and now this may explain why. Tesla has likely been working on this new energy graph for a while and didn't want to spend time adapting the old app to fit the new vehicles. The new vehicles may finally receive an energy app with this update.
The new energy graph will not only let you view the energy the vehicle is using while driving but also the amount of energy that was used while the vehicle was parked.
Whether the vehicle is driving or parked, you'll now be able to see a complete breakdown of all the different systems in the vehicle and how much energy they've used. Unfortunately, Tesla doesn't display energy used in kW, but in percentage.
The vehicle will also provide suggestions on how to improve efficiency.
At the top of the energy graph where you normally have Consumption and Trip, you'll now have a new option called Park which displays energy used while parked.
The consumption screen looks similar to the way it did before. It displays the vehicle's energy usage on a graph over a chosen distance.
However, the Park and Trip views have been completely revamped.
On the Park screen, the vehicle will display various vehicle components and their energy usage. For example, the vehicle will break down its energy usage over several categories including the vehicle's screen, vehicle pre-conditioning, cabin overheat protection, Sentry Mode and mobile app usage and more.
Next to each category, the vehicle will display the percentage of the energy used for the feature and how it compares to the rest of the fleet. This could be helpful to let you know whether the amount of energy used for that feature is in line with expectations.
You'll also be able to change the timeframe since the last departure or other periods.
Similar to the Park screen, the new Trip screen also displays a breakdown of energy used across different vehicle systems, although it also adds a graph at the top, similar to what's available in the vehicle today.
The graph will automatically change colors, not based on the battery state of charge, but dependent on whether the vehicle used more or less energy in the given segment of the route when compared to its predictions.
Underneath the graph, Tesla will display the amount of energy used for driving, climate, battery conditioning, altitude, and other systems.
In addition to displaying the percent of the energy used for each system, Tesla will also compare your usage to its prediction and the percentage difference above or below the prediction.
There could be other features in the 2022.36 update that aren't mentioned here and we'll have to wait a little longer to see whether there are any additional features.
The biggest update in this release appears to be the new energy app and many owners will be thrilled with its release.
We may start seeing 2022.36 going out to the public in the next couple of weeks. You can also view the release notes for 2022.36.
TeslaFi is a service that logs your drives and charging sessions so that you can later refer back to them. We highly recommend checking them out if you use your car for business trips and would like to keep track of reimbursements, if you like to see how much you spend on charging or if you just love statistics. View their about us page and see everything they have to offer!
DIMO is building a web3, user-owned network dedicated to supporting the next generation of mobility infrastructure. As a user, you can start today by accessing the best connected vehicle experience via the DIMO Mobile App. It works for nearly any vehicle and across any OEM; users are in control of their data and their DIMO wallet is a conduit to other apps and services, saving time and money. Learn more


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AMBER ROSE FEATURE STORY ON LIFESTYLE MIRROR
By veronica viayra, May 1st, 2012
The fashion and style website Lifestyle Mirror took a look into the life of muse and model Amber Rose for their most recent cover story.
The stunning Rose has recently been named the face of Smirnoff’s new Fluffed Marshmallow and Whipped Cream vodka flavors. Other feathers in the cap of her career include being featured in music videos for rappers such as Ludacris and Young Jeezy, walking the runway for fashion designers, and guest starring on several television shows.
The online style magazine set up a special photo shoot for Rose on the Upper East Side with the concept of the cutting edge fashion icon as a proper, “lady who lunches”. The shoot took place at the John Barrett Salon at Bergdorf Goodman and at the Bistro Chat Noir restaurant. The styling was atypical for her, as her more form fitting and bearing style was swapped for a modest look featuring clothes from Emporio Armani, Michael Kors, and Roland Mouret.
Lifestyle Mirror offers weekly cover stories that profile interesting international personalities by giving readers a glimpse at their world and what in it inspires them. To go along with the story and photo shoot, Lifestyle Mirror shot a special fashion film starring Rose.


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Alcatel of France, the telecommunications equipment maker, is in advanced talks to buy Lucent Technologies for slightly more than $40 billion, almost entirely in stock, executives close to the discussions said yesterday.
The talks, which the companies have held in fits and starts for more than a month, have reached a crucial stage and a decision about whether to proceed with formal negotiations is expected within the next week, the executives said. If the companies decide to move forward, a deal could be announced by early June, said the executives, who described the odds of the deal happening at 50-50.
The companies are discussing a nearly all-stock transaction that would represent about a 20 percent premium over Lucent's current value of $33.5 billion.
Lucent's management is hoping to portray the deal as a merger of equals, the executives said, although Alcatel would clearly be the buyer. Alcatel, which is valued at $39.5 billion, is not much bigger than Lucent.Continue reading the main story
If the deal to buy Lucent, a descendant of the 132-year-old telecommunications empire formed by Alexander Graham Bell, materializes, it would be the boldest move yet by Serge Tchuruk, Alcatel's chief executive. Mr. Tchuruk took control of the Paris-based company six years ago, transforming it from a conglomerate with interests as varied as vineyards and high-speed trains into a sleek producer of communications equipment.
Alcatel's main objective in acquiring Lucent would be to advance its ambitions in the United States, the largest market for equipment like telephone switches, fiber optic components and Internet routers. Lucent and its rivals Nortel Networks and Cisco Systems dominate the industry, but the share prices of the three companies have been falling.
Discussions about a sale of Lucent to Alcatel grew out of talks about a decidedly smaller deal: the sale of Lucent's fiber optic cable business, which it hopes to sell for more than $5 billion to help reduce its debt.
Alcatel still plans to bid for that business if it does not acquire all of Lucent, the executives said. At the moment, Alcatel's only serious competitor for Lucent's fiber optic business is Pirelli of Italy, an executive said. Part of the attraction of either deal would be Alcatel's ability to reduce Lucent's debt with cash.
Executives close to the discussions between Lucent and Alcatel said the largest stumbling block to a deal was simply whether Lucent's board was willing to sell when the company's stock has been pummeled and is trading in the single digits after being as high as $77.78. Both companies are also worried that Lucent's shareholders in the United States would dump the stock after the deal was completed, thus lowering the value of the combined company.
Some mutual funds that track American stock indexes do not hold shares of foreign companies and would be forced to sell stock in the combined company.
While demand for communications equipment has weakened because of problems at several small communications companies, larger companies like AT&T and Verizon Communications continue to make significant purchases. Alcatel, the largest company of its kind in Europe, would presumably find it easier to sell to these types of clients if it were to acquire Lucent.
Alcatel has been shielded from some of the problems at North American communications equipment makers, although its stock price is off 40 percent this year. Alcatel's American depository receipts fell 27 cents yesterday, to $32.04, as Lucent climbed 8 cents, to $9.81.
Alcatel has already made several forays into North America, including its $7.1 billion acquisition last year of the switch maker Newbridge Networks of Canada and its purchase in 1998 of DSC Communications of Dallas, an optical equipment company. Still, only about 20 percent of Alcatel's sales are in the United States.
Besides a foothold in the American market, Alcatel could gain access to Bell Labs, the research operation instrumental in creating technologies like the transistor and the laser. Lucent took Bell Labs with it in the spin-off from AT&T in 1996.
It is not clear how legislators and regulators would react if a research institution like Bell Labs were to come under control of a foreign company. In Deutsche Telekom's acquisition of the wireless carrier VoiceStream Communications, some legislators opposed the deal, saying that it was bad policy for a company controlled by a foreign government to buy an American phone company.
Alcatel, which grew out of Compagnie Générale d'Electricité, a pioneering French electricity generating company, was nationalized by the French government in 1982 and then privatized later in the decade. Mr. Tchuruk, the former head of Total, a large French oil company, became chief executive in 1995, largely because of his reputation as a turnaround specialist.
Mr. Tchuruk would have several immediate challenges if Alcatel were to take control of Lucent. In the last year, Lucent's stock has plunged 82 percent as the company became burdened by managerial and sales problems. The board ousted Richard A. McGinn, its chairman and chief executive, in October and replaced him with Henry Schacht.
After repeatedly lowering its forecasts over the last year, Lucent reported a loss of $3.7 billion in the most recent quarter, hampered largely by charges from the elimination of 10,000 jobs. To reduce its debt, Lucent has sold large parts of the company and has spun off its chip-making unit, Agere Systems, allowing it to transfer $2.5 billion of its debt onto Agere's books.
Despite these moves Lucent has had trouble raising money and had to dispute rumors last month that it would file for bankruptcy protection. Turmoil at Lucent was evidenced by the dismissal this month of its chief financial officer, Deborah C. Hopkins. She opposed the idea of selling Lucent to Alcatel, people close to Lucent said.
''Alcatel would inherit a lot of headaches,'' said James N. Kelleher, an analyst at Argus Research. ''It's not entirely clear if the gain outweighs the pain.''Continue reading the main story


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While the residents of Norwood may be familiar with all the incredible offerings at Thava Indian Restaurant, visitors at Montecasino will finally get a taste of Thava’s fresh and new take on Indian cuisine at the restaurant’s new location.
The restaurant’s seating plan and intimate design lend themselves to its menu which was designed for sharing, tasting, enjoying and experiencing.
In addition to featuring the freshest local ingredients and aromatic spices, all the chefs at Thava’s are from India; a choice made by the owner in an effort “to retain the feel of the old country”.
The menu is rooted in recipes handed down to owner Mathew Abrahams by his mother who birthed him in Kerala, an Indian state on the southwestern Malabar coast.
Abrahams works closely with chef Philippe Frydman, who has been the consultant for Thava since it was established nearly a decade ago. Together, they aim to deliver the Indian cuisine “with a difference” at the new Montecasino restaurant.
During Thava’s opening last week, I was treated to an array of vegetarian, lamb, chicken and seafood dishes served in fragrant curries, biriyanis and stews alongside traditional breads, rice dishes and side dishes.
Having tasted the dishes alongside a colleague of Indian descent proves just how authentic the dishes are as she remarked that they remind her of home.
Perhaps the most interesting innovation is Thava’s gourmet food cart concept which will offer Montecasino patrons authentic Indian street food and a casual sit-down area opposite Skoobs where they can watch the world go by as their tastebuds are transported to the heart of India.
Among the dishes, all designed for takeaway, are tandoori bunny, paani poori, momos, vegetable patties and panjabi chaat, to name but a few.
“Many residents of Joburg already know and love Thava from their Norwood restaurant, and this new Montecasino branch takes an already great restaurant to the next level,” Mike Page, operations director and complex general manager of Montecasino, said in a statement.
“Thava Montecasino has the same exceptional commitment to delivering food that is authentic, real and true to its heritage, but blended with a dash or two of innovation – something we pride ourselves on at Montecasino.
“This is Indian food at its best, in a prime location, with a beautiful interior and a funky street food vibe to bring it all together.
“It is certainly delivering on Montecasino’s promise that ‘We’ve Got It’.”


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Sharon Lam is a production editor for Reuters Breakingviews covering the consumer goods and technology sectors. She joined Breakingviews in December 2017 in Hong Kong, where she was previously based. Prior to Reuters, she worked at Forbes, Mirae Asset Global Investments and HSBC. Sharon holds a bachelor's degree in international relations and political science from Tufts University.
Nordstrom became the latest US chain to fold up north after failing to crack a relatively small market with local competition. Fewer major metropolitan areas than the US is one issue, but the challenges aren’t confined to the sector. Canada is at risk of further isolating itself.
Rogers’ deal for telecoms rival Shaw may finally close after a two-year fight. The country’s antitrust agency failed to block it – the latest in a history of losses. Reform efforts should wrestle with reasons for its lack of teeth next to aggressive U.S. and European enforcers.
The home of Marlboro is spending up to $3.3 bln on vape maker NJOY, reflecting a heady multiple of 33 times sales. Altria gets a validated e-cigarette product, which is more than could be said for Juul. It has to make NJOY popular, though, which won’t be easy.


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2 hrs ago | EETimes
KEMET's KPS HT Series devices with an X8L dielectric utilize a proprietary lead-frame technology to vertically stack one or two Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors into a single compact surface mount package.
2 hrs ago | EETimes
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Can’t go to the Olympics? Toronto’s Koreatown offers authentic experience
The Winter Olympics get under way later this week in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
It’s a long, expensive trip to see the games in person, so most Canadians will be watching from afar.
But there are plenty of ways to experience Korean culture at home, including in Toronto’s Koreatown.
Located in the city’s west end, the community offers one of the most authentic comparisons to life in South Korea with its many restaurants, karaoke bars, taekwondo studios, hair and beauty salons and grocery stores.
“It’s rich in history. It’s a story, it’s a real story of the immigrant experience,” said Koreatown business improvement area chairman Jason Lee.
“It’s a nice fabric of a mixture from people from all over. We’re proud that we can showcase Korean culture, but at the same time live with everyone and have other businesses and come together.”
If you’re in Toronto and are looking to immerse yourself in Korean culture during the Feb. 9-25 Olympic Games, here are some unique areas to check out:
There is no shortage of Korean restaurants along the stretch of Bloor Street that makes up Koreatown.
Booths are set up in classic Korean style at Mama’s Chef with chopsticks and a spoon already on your table. There is a buzzer on the wall beside each table that can be used at any time to get the server’s attention. MaMa Chef Korean Restaurant offers traditional dishes of black bean noodles (jajangmyun) and sweet and sour pork (tangsooyuk), which are both popular in South Korea.
There are also barbeque options at several spots, including Korean Village Restaurant, which Lee’s parents started in February 1978. Strips of sirloin beef along with beef short ribs, which have been marinated for 35 hours, can be placed on a grill in the middle of the table and cooked before consuming.
“The way that we’re introducing authentic Korean food, that means a lot,” said Lee. “We’re showcasing Korean culture, we’re showcasing our food and it’s pride. It says a lot about my parents and one of the cool aspects of living in Toronto when you can really immerse yourself in different cultures.”
Markets selling fruits outside are also prevelant while the PAT Central grocery store carries a large variety of Asian food.
Tucked alongside the restaurants and markets are several hair and nail salons.
Korean style lashes and hairstyles are popular among Koreans and Chinese alike. And although a lot of Koreans have flocked north of the city to the Yonge and Finch area, many still prefer the services that Koreatown has to offer.
“One-third of the population still prefers here because from downtown, to travel to Yonge and Finch, it’s too far,” Jina Han of Sis Hair & Beauty said through a translator.
Sung Lee of the clothing boutique Vivace has lived in Toronto for almost 30 years. Both her and Han said that Koreatown is similar to a little Korea.
“Everything is ordinary. Nothing too special when it comes to Koreatown, just another form of business,” Lee said through a translator.
If food and beauty aren’t your thing, there is still plenty to do.
A Taekwondo studio offers programs to learn the sport and a former adult entertainment theatre has been converted to a rock climbing gym.
Gigabites Internet is an internet cafe — a trend that’s still popular in South Korea — and has been in the area for more than 10 years.
“It’s just a unique culture that we have with a computer at your own place,” said employee Jonah Yoo.
The Korean Senior Citizens Society helps provide services to the elderly in the community.
There are non-Korean businesses that stand out too, including Clinton’s bar, the Poop Cafe and Snakes and Lattes.
Koreatown is accessible from both the Bathurst and Christie subway stations.
Follow @RyanBMcKenna on Twitter


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Amazon may have had a great gush of new products last month, but it’s back on the announcement train today with the Fire TV Blaster, an IR blaster for Alexa. It’ll give Amazon’s assistant greater control over your home entertainment devices, such as being able to power on TVs, projectors, audio systems, and more.
They’re talents that the Amazon Fire TV Cube has counted among its abilities for a while now, but the Amazon Fire TV Blaster puts them into a standalone form. That makes it more compact and, even more important, cheaper.
In fact the new IR blaster comes in at just $34.99. A Fire TV Cube, in contrast, is $119.99. Amazon will also have a bundle, including the Fire TV Blaster, a Fire TV Stick, and an Echo Dot, all for $79.99.
Unlike the Fire TV Cube, the Fire TV Blaster isn’t a streaming device. In fact it doesn’t physically connect with your TV at all. Instead, once powered on, it works with a Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K, and a Fire TV 3rd Gen, along with any Echo smart speaker or smart display. Infrared commands are sent to your AV devices.
It’ll mean you can ask Alexa to turn on the TV, for example, and the Fire TV Blaster will issue the right IR command to do that. Changing channel is supported, too, as is changing HDMI inputs, controlling a soundbar or surround sound system, and then turning everything off at the end of the night. With a Fire TV streamer, you can request shows by name, and control fast forward and rewind.
The box itself is just over 2-inches tall, and since it doesn’t have a microphone array itself, you don’t need to worry about keeping it out of your AV cabinet. Instead it should be positioned 1-2 feet from whatever devices you’d like to control, Amazon says. There’s also an IR extender included, which allows for control over other devices up to 1.5m away. Power is via a USB adapter, also in the box.
The Fire TV Blaster is up for preorder now, priced at $34.99, as is the bundle package. It’ll ship on December 11, in the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany.


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TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO), a worldwide leader in free-to-play online games, today announced an agreement with Tiancity, under which Tiancity will publish popular first-person shooter (“FPS”) game Counter-Strike Online 2 in mainland China.
Developed by Nexon and based upon Valve’s Counter-Strike series, Counter-Strike Online 2 is the sequel to the phenomenally successful Counter-Strike Online, which has been a consistent top title in the Chinese market since its launch in 2008. Counter-Strike Online is a team-based, tactical FPS game that pits a team of terrorists against a team of counter-terrorists in a series of rounds.
Tailored for gaming audiences in China, Counter-Strike Online 2 combines the exciting plot and competitiveness of its predecessor with higher-quality graphics, a wider array of weapons, equipment customization and new and improved environments. The sequel also incorporates MMORPG elements with the addition of a new game mode – “Big City” – in which 64 users can play simultaneously.
“We are pleased to build on our successful partnership with Tiancity to deliver another installment of the highly successful Counter-Strike Online franchise to players in China,” said Seungwoo Choi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nexon Co., Ltd. “We think players will love the exciting new features offered in this sequel and look forward to continuing a productive relationship with Tiancity in the future.”
About NEXON Co., Ltd. http://company.nexon.co.jp/
NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO) is a worldwide leader in free-to-play online games. Founded in Korea in 1994, Nexon developed one of the world's first graphics-based massively multiplayer online games. Nexon also pioneered the concept of microtransactions and the free-to-play business model, setting a new standard in which play is free, and users have the option to purchase in-game items to enhance their experience. Nexon currently services more than 60 online games in more than 100 countries and since its founding, Nexon has generated more than 1.3 billion player registrations. The Company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and its shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Tiancity is a Chinese online game platform provided by Shanghai Posts and Telecommunications Technology Co., Ltd. Since its establishment in 2004, Tiancity has contributed a lot to the growth of the industry by constantly introducing new game genres ranging from casual racing (KartRider) to first-person shooters (Counter-Strike Online). Tiancity now ranks among the top ten game publishers in China with more than 350 million registered users on its platform. K1, its annual electronic sports event, is the biggest offline tournament in the country, making Tiancity the ideal publishing house for competitive games. With six solid games already in service, Tiancity has also announced it will publish Cyphers, an MMO action title from the developer of the hit title Dungeon&Fighter, and Free Style2, the sequel to the well-known sports game, both within 2013.


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Update COVID-19 in Indonesia: 1,769,940 confirmed infections, 49,205 deaths (22 May 2021)
7 June 2021 (closed)
USD/IDR (14,146) -6.00 -0.04%
EUR/IDR (17,335) +57.05 +0.33%
Jakarta Composite Index (6,069.94) +4.77 +0.08%
Due to the prolonged dry season impacting on harvests, coffee production in Indonesia as well as coffee exports from the world’s third-largest coffee grower continued to decline. Based on the latest data from the International Coffee Organization (ICO), Indonesia’s coffee output plunged 23 percent to 540 million kilograms in the period April 2014 to March 2015 compared to the same period in the previous year, while Indonesia’s coffee exports declined to 336 million kilograms from 612 million kilograms over the same period.
Sumita, Chairman of the Lampung (South Sumatra) branch of the Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters and Industries (AEKI), responded saying that Indonesia’s lower coffee production and export in the April 2014 - March 2015 period are a normal phenomenon as the harvest time began in May and lasts until October. In the couple of months before May, exporters have been exporting part of their coffee stockpiles. Sumita expects to see Indonesian coffee exports and production surge in the next six months.
Fresh beans from current coffee harvests in Indonesia are being absorbed mostly by the domestic market. London-based ICO expects Indonesia’s harvest to increase in the April 2015 - March 2016 period from the same period despite the threat of the El Nino cycle. Earlier this month we reported that it is increasingly being believed that the El Nino weather phenomenon will hit Indonesia in the next couple of months and various reports surfaced that unusual dry weather has already impacted negatively on harvests of agricultural commodities in parts of Southeast Asia.
The AEKI estimates that Indonesian coffee output will reach 600,000 to 650,000 tons in the 2015 season, lower than the institution’s earlier forecast of 650,000-700,000 tons and below production realization last year of 711,513 tons. Other analysts or industry groups expect that the El Nino phenomenon will reduce AEKI’s forecast by about 50,000 tons.
• Weather in Indonesia: El Nino to Impact Agricultural Commodities in 2015?
• Global Demand for Indonesian Luwak Coffee (Kopi Luwak) Declined
• Climate Change to Enhance Indonesia’s Role in Global Coffee Industry?


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Only by lifting sanctions can the EU work effectively with Russia in Syria and Iraq. That's why France must be first to take responsibility and put an end to the anti-Russian sanctions, and then urge other EU members to do the same, d'Auzon said.
"Can we fight side-by-side with the Russians and keep EU sanctions imposed at the same time? The answer is no!" — said d'Auzon, who is also an expert in Russian politics and the author of a book about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The World Bank consultant also pointed out that the sanctions are hurting the EU economy. Europe lost almost 20 percent of its trade volume due the sanctions, meanwhile the United States, which pressured the EU to join the anti-Russian economic measures, actually increased its trade with Russia by 7 percent despite sanctions.
"We [Europeans] are applying sanctions and we're suffering because of them. The Americans, on the other hand, are making money off the sanctions," d'Auzon wrote, citing renowned French journalist Pierre Lorrain.
France, for example, exported agricultural products to Russia worth €750 ($825) million in 2013. But with the start of sanctions, French farmers have had a tough time as they are unable to sell their products to the huge Russian market, which in turn led to low food prices and less money for French food growers, the economic expert explained.
The European Union and its allies have introduced several rounds of sanctions since 2014, accusing Moscow of meddling in the Ukrainian conflict. The claims have been repeatedly denied by the Kremlin.
In response, Moscow has imposed an embargo on food imports from the countries that sanctioned it in retaliation.


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February 06, 2007
AstraZeneca to trim staff by 3,000
AstraZeneca announced plans to eliminate 3,000 jobs, or 4.6% of its workforce, over the next three years, as it reduces expenses to counter generic competition. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker provided few other details about the cuts, only stating the eliminations would occur in the supply chain and that the company still needs to talk with unions and staff about the reductions. The company is planning to take $500 million in charges to pay for the job cuts, of which $300 million will be in cash. AstraZeneca employs over 65,000 people worldwide, according to its Web site. The job reductions come following a year of setbacks for AstraZeneca. Sales of the drugmaker’s Toprol-XL hypertension drug are on the decline due to competition from generic versions and the company was forced to stop development of its blood thinner Exanta, stroke treatment NXY-059 and Galida for diabetes. During the company’s fourth quarter earnings call, CEO David Brennan said AstraZeneca’s focus remained on strengthening its weak drug pipeline. “More remains to be done,” Brennan said. “We are determined to maintain the sales momentum or our current product portfolio and to continue to build a pipeline to sustain our growth, while driving further productivity improvements and enhancing cash returns to shareholders.” During the call, AstraZeneca also announced a $150 million cash deal to acquire Arrow Therapeutics, a privately owned UK biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of anti-viral therapies. The transaction is expected to close in early 2007. Anti-viral programs in development by Arrow include several different approaches toward Hepatitis C virus and respiratory syncytial virus. Last month, AstraZeneca announced a collaboration deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb worth $1 billion to develop and commercialize two investigational compounds for Type 2 diabetes. The compounds are saxagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor currently in Phase III development, and dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor currently in Phase IIb development. Both compounds were discovered by Bristol-Myers Squibb. AstraZeneca in January also announced plans to expand work in infectious disease and cancer research with a $100 million expansion of its R&D center near Boston. The company has also stepped up its consumer promotion behind currently marketed products. AstraZeneca outspent rivals Pfizer and Merck by 30% on consumer advertising for Crestor, helping the drug become the fastest-growing cholesterol treatment, Bloomberg.com recently reported. AstraZeneca spent $166.5 million on Crestor TV, print and radio promotion to consumers in 2006 to November, the Web site reported, citing data from Nielsen Monitor-Plus. That number compares with $128 million spent by Merck on Vytorin and $104 million spent by Schering-Plough on Zetia. Crestor is taking Pfizer’s Lipitor, the top-selling cholesterol-lowering treatment and the world’s best-selling prescription medicine, with 2006 global sales of $12.8 billion. Pfizer spent approximately $18 million on consumer advertising for Lipitor in 2006 to November, with sales gaining 15% in the third quarter. During the third quarter of 2006, Crestor sales rose 64% to outpace Vytorin, according to Bloomberg.com.


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Qualcomm’s annual analyst event in Hawaii this week had enough good weather and interesting news that I didn’t miss my 49″ monitor too much. And the most interesting news is how Qualcomm and Lenovo plan to give enterprises an alternative to Apple.
Lenovo is probably the only company other than perhaps Microsoft that can truly go head-to-head with Apple. My old friend from AMD, Vlad Rozanovich, now Lenovo’s President for North America, shared a fascinating strategy that makes heavy use of Qualcomm’s multiplatform technology strategy to create a stronger alternative to Apple.
Carriers and enterprises have been asking PC OEMs for an alternative so they don’t have to deploy Apple products and, up until now, none of them have really stepped up to address Apple’s complete product set.
This is not a consumer effort; it is one focused specifically on addressing the problem that large companies have buying from Apple.
The Apple Problem for Enterprises
The Apple problem has several layers. First, Apple maintains the most loyal customer base of any PC or smartphone OEM. Second, there is a labor shortage that has resulted in employees being able to demand products that IT could otherwise avoid buying. Third, Apple has historically treated IT like a redundant department and particularly doesn’t like even listening to, let alone meeting, IT concerns about interoperability, security, or volume pricing. Finally, Apple’s extreme focus on margins makes it look like companies are overpaying for Apple solutions, making the related expenses hard to defend and putting IT literally between a cost rock and a finance department single-source-ban hard place (most large firms have policies against single-source contracts and there is only one Apple).
Windows PCs and Android phones are more attractive because they can be bid, the OEMs have lines designed with security they trust, and those vendors will listen and work with IT. But few Windows OEMs have smartphones or business-focused tablets or consistent security that crosses all three platforms.
Lenovo and Qualcomm to the Rescue
What Lenovo is building with Qualcomm, partially through their Motorola division, is a focused line designed to both better meet IT needs and provide a level of consistent security and management that embraces all three form factors.
Using Lenovo’s ThinkShield device management and ThinkVantage security and Qualcomm’s technology, the companies have attractively designed Apple-like offerings they plan to use to aggressively pursue an Apple alternative strategy to address IT’s unmet needs.
The similarities in the core ARM technology used by Apple and provided by Qualcomm coupled with the use of Snapdragon across PCs, tablets, and a business-focused smartphone should be a game-changer for IT, which wants to remove the complexity from users’ work environments and reduce both remote management overhead and security exposure.
The companies aren’t shooting in the dark, as IT customers, particularly in critical areas like Pharma and Finance verticals, have been demanding such a solution for some time. Lenovo isn’t just unique with their smartphone lines – they are also unique as the only PC OEM that spans the world with their own manufacturing. making them far better at dealing with the current supply shortages.
The result should be a collective line of PCs, tablets, and smartphones that are more secure, easier to manage, more consistent, and that interoperate better than anything Apple has ever delivered. The only remaining challenge, and it is a big one, is getting users on board because moving Apple users has always been a big problem.
Taking the Fight to Apple
The pandemic has created a boon for Apple and a problem for IT in that users can demand and often get Apple products that don’t comply with security, hardware, software, or cost requirements.
Lenovo, with Qualcomm’s help, is moving to fill this gap with a unique blend of products focused on business that span PCs, tablets and smartphones and have the potential, with a well-funded marketing or advocacy program, to finally take the enterprise personal technology fight to Apple.
Lenovo is in a unique position to move on this opportunity if they adequately fund the effort. Suddenly, 2022 looks far more interesting for both Qualcomm and Lenovo.


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If you are a gamer, you may already be familiar with Nintendo’s wireless Xbox 360 headset, but this isn’t the same device.
This is the Nubwo, a wireless headset that allows you to play games and watch TV on your smart TV.
The Nubwos price is $299.99, but if you are on a budget, you can get it for just $199.99.
The headset also has a built-in Bluetooth audio player and wireless charging dock.
“It’s the first wireless headset on the market,” said Brian Maffei, an industry analyst with research firm Strategy Analytics.
“There are no proprietary technologies or anything like that.”
This wireless headset has a large, round screen with a bright blue backlight.
The sound is crisp and clear, and there is an active noise cancellation system.
The wireless charging station can charge the headset from one to three times, according to Mafferi.
The cord can be clipped to the back of your TV and the charging dock can be plugged into the wall outlet for added convenience.
The new wireless headsets come in two colors, red and white.
There are no specifications on the wireless gaming headsets yet, but Maffesi said the Nubs should be able to handle both PS3 and Xbox 360 games.
The Xbox 360 controller also supports voice commands.
But there is no confirmation that this will work with the wireless headset.
The next generation wireless gaming headset is the Turtle Beach headset.
This headset comes with a wireless speaker, a built in microphone, and a built a-sensing infrared sensor to give it the capability of being able to read your face.
The Turtle Beach headphones can also be used as a wireless earpiece for games.
There is no set price on the Turtle Beats, but it is $99.99 and will retail for $249.99 when it is released later this year.
There’s also a wireless mouse for gaming, which is available for $89.99 with wireless support.
“The Turtle Beach gaming headsets are really going to bring more people into the industry, as we’ve seen with the Playstation 3 and Xbox360,” said Maffey.
The headsets can also function as a pair of headphones if you need to play some music.
The price tag is also higher for the Turtle Bay headphones.
Maffrey said the Turtle Bands are also compatible with the Xbox 360 controllers.
The Nintendo Wii is also a great wireless gaming device.
The Wii comes with two wireless speakers and a wired microphone, according, the wireless controller and a wireless charging adapter.
The controllers are also included in the price.
There has been no word on the availability of the Nintendo Wii Pro wireless controllers, but the price of the Wii Pro is $129.99 on the Microsoft Store.
But if you don’t have the Wii, you have to make do with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The PlayStation 4 has wireless games that support wireless game streaming, but there are no wireless headsets that support the Wii.
The Playstation 4 also has wireless wireless controllers that support voice commands, but those wireless controllers have not been announced.
The only wireless headsets with wireless streaming are the wireless headphones that have been available for over a year, according the Maffes.
But the wireless headsets on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are still only for the PC, but they can be used with the gaming console.
“They have a great gaming experience,” said Matt Zoller, senior director of Xbox at Microsoft.
“So if you’re going to be playing on the PC or Xbox One, then they’ll be a good choice.”
The wireless headsets for the Xbox and PlayStation are available in the Xbox App store and in the PlayStation Store.
There have also been rumors about the Xbox Live Wireless headset that will work as a wired headset.
Zoller said that’s still in development, and it could be out in the next few months.
Mazzarella said the Xbox Wireless headset is one of the most popular wireless headsets, but he did not have an exact number.
Zeller said there is currently a $100 price tag for the wireless wireless headset and $50 for the Bluetooth headset.
But for those of us who prefer to watch TV with our smart TV, the NUBWos wireless headset is not for us.
It has the same size and weight as the Turtle Wears, and its wireless capabilities are not nearly as robust as the Xbox wireless headsets.
It’s not cheap, and you won’t be able see the sound from your smart television from this headset, said Zoller.
It also is not the best wireless headset for watching video games, because the wireless capability is weak, Zoller noted.
“For those of you who have been watching a lot of action, it’s a good headset to use,” said Zeller.
“But the NUBS is still a little bit on the pricey side.”
The Turtle Wear and Turtle


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Amazon Appstore offers $100 in free apps to boost its Fire Phone
Amazon.com is offering 31 paid Android apps for free through its app store this weekend in an attempt to make its store more attractive to consumers.
Amazon’s devices are powered by Android, but the company doesn’t host the Google Play store. Instead, it has the Amazon Appstore, which has about 240,000 apps. That's far less than Google Play, which has more than 1 million apps.
Amazon is trying to make the store more attractive to users before the July release of its Fire Phone. The free apps will make it more palatable for people to switch to the Fire Phone if they do not have to re-purchase all of their apps.
Amazon also recently announced incentives for developers to create apps that will be compatible with the phone. Ratio, a Seattle-based company that creates apps for other companies, said it is receiving a lot of calls from businesses inquiring about updating their apps but still unwilling to commit.
The 31 free apps total nearly $100; they include travel and games apps as well as paid business calendars.
Rachel Lerman covers technology and retail for the Puget Sound Business Journal.
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Shein Partners with Forever 21 for Exclusive Capsule Collection
Fast fashion has undeniably been transformed by the rise of ultra-fast digital players like Shein. But traditional physical retailers still hold brand awareness and scale advantages. That’s why Shein’s innovative new collaboration represents the future of omni-channel fast fashion retail.
Shein and Forever 21 parent company SPARC Group recently announced an exclusive partnership that leverages both of their strengths. Shein will design, manufacture and distribute a co-branded Forever 21 x Shein line including categories like sportswear, activewear and swimwear. The collection will be produced via Shein’s on-demand model and sold on Shein’s websites.
This collaboration builds on Shein and SPARC’s deepening ties. In August 2022, Shein acquired a minority stake in SPARC, which operates Forever 21 in the US. The deal gave Shein access to Forever 21’s brick-and-mortar presence, while SPARC gained Shein’s e-commerce and supply chain agility.
Forever 21’s strong brand awareness pairs with Shein’s digital expertise and scalable manufacturing. Jamie Salter, Chairman and CEO of Authentic Brands Group which co-owns SPARC, said Shein’s “ability to deliver trends at speed” makes them an ideal partner for the iconic fast fashion label.
Here’s how this strategic partnership positions both brands for success:
Shein Gains Brick-and-Mortar Access
As a purely digital player, Shein has been rapidly winning market share from traditional fast fashion retailers. But the brand lacked physical store presence beyond pop-ups.
Acquiring Forever 21 gives Shein a network of established stores to sell its merchandise in the US and potentially other regions. This solves Shein’s need for physical retail visibility and touchpoints.
Early pop-ups delivered promising results, with massive turnout from Shein’s Gen Z fanbase. The Forever 21 x Shein collection can test customers’ appetite for the brand in US stores.
Forever 21 Leverages Shein’s Digital Agility
While Forever 21 maintains strong brand awareness, its e-commerce lags fast fashion disruptors. Partnering with Shein gives them immediate digital expertise and back-end efficiencies.
Forever 21 can piggyback off Shein’s analytics-driven approach to quickly translate trends into ultra-low cost product. Shein’s nimble supply chain produces merchandise at breakneck speeds unmatched by traditional retailers.
Selling an exclusive capsule collection on Shein’s platform brings Forever 21’s designs directly to Shein’s enormous following of Gen Z and millennial US customers.
Combines Best of Physical and Digital Fast Fashion
This partnership exemplifies how traditional and digital fast fashion models are converging for optimal scale and efficiency.
Both companies deliver inexpensive, trendy fast fashion but through divergent approaches. By connecting their distinct strengths, the brands can better cater to modern consumers’ expectations for omni-channel convenience.
Digitally native brands realize physical retail remains important, especially for asset-light opportunities like partnering with established chains versus building their own stores. Forever 21’s vast footprint provides Shein immediate brick-and-mortar access without heavy investment.
Meanwhile traditional retailers are wisely embracing collaborations with digital players possessing direct supply chain linkages and real-time consumer analytics. Teaming with Shein allows Forever 21 to pilot e-commerce concepts before fully integrating them.
The new collaboration exemplifies how strategic partnerships across physical and digital retail close gaps in each model. The biggest beneficiaries are customers who gain quicker access to fast fashion trends seamlessly across channels.
This innovative pairing demonstrates the value of brands playing to their unique strengths while joining forces to offer consumers the best of both shopping worlds.
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Report | October, 2014
Shrimp: Oceana Reveals Misrepresentation of America’s Favorite Seafood
Oceana study reveals misrepresentation of America’s favorite seafood – shrimp – across the United States. In the only known study of its kind in the U.S., DNA testing confirmed that 30 percent of the 143 shrimp products tested from 111 grocery stores and restaurants were misrepresented. Oceana also found that consumers are often provided with little information about the shrimp they purchase, including where and how it was caught or farmed, making it difficult, if not impossible, for them to make informed choices.
Oceana found misrepresented shrimp everywhere it tested, including rates of 43 percent in New York, NY, 33 percent in Washington, D.C., 30 percent in the Gulf of Mexico region (Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, FL; Mobile and Orange Beach, AL; Biloxi and Ocean Springs, MS; New Orleans and LA, Louisiana; and Houston and Galveston, TX) and 5 percent in Portland, OR. Oceana defined misrepresentation as products that were mislabeled (one species swapped out for another), misleading (e.g. farmed species labeled as “Gulf”), or mixed/mystery (e.g. commingling species among bagged shrimp).
Overall, 35 percent of the 111 vendors visited nationwide sold misrepresented shrimp. Of the 70 restaurants visited, 31 percent sold misrepresented shrimp, and 41 percent of the 41 grocery stores visited sold misrepresented products. However, shrimp purchased from grocery stores and restaurants were misrepresented at the same rate – 30 percent.
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Cipla Current Affairs, GK & News
Zydus Cadila launched the cheapest generic version of Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug Remdesivir in India to treat the deadly COVID 19 pandemic. The version has been launched after reports of a shortage of the drugs in the hospitals of the country. The price of drugs has been fixed as Rs 2800 per 100 mg vial. ..
Category: India Nation & States Current Affairs
In its June 13th, 2020 guidelines for Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19, the Union Health Ministry as a part of investigational therapy added ‘Remdesivir’ only for restricted emergency use. A week after, on 21st June 2020, Hetero and Cipla Pharmaceuticals were granted approval by the Drug Controller General of India for the production and marketing ..
Month: Current Affairs - June, 2020
Category: Science & Technology Current Affairs
Indian pharmaceutical giant Cipla Ltd. has acquired two US generic drug companies, InvaGen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Exelan Pharmaceuticals Inc. In this regard, Cipla has closed the transaction of the deal through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cipla (EU) Ltd. Key facts These deals will allow Cipla to further strengthen its presence in the US pharmaceutical market is ..
Indian pharmaceutical giant, Cipla has been awarded $188.95 million (around Rs. 1,172 crore) Contract by Global Fund to supply ARV (anti-retroviral) drugs. Cipla has been selected as a Panel Supplier for a supplier partnership agreement. This contract is effective from 1 January 2015 and will run for a period of three years i.e. till 2018. ..


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The Chinese economy faced significant challenges in the second quarter of 2023, with minimal growth and a surge in unemployment among young people. These concerns arise amid the global threat of recession in the US and Europe.
The sluggish growth in 2023 has increased the pressure on Beijing to stimulate economic expansion. However, several factors hinder this effort. Consumer spending is low, exports remain weak, the real estate sector is in crisis, and some regions face financial instability. Additionally, more than 20% of Chinese young people between 16 and 24 are unemployed, painting a bleak economic picture.
Sustaining economic growth remains a formidable challenge for President Xi Jinping and his administration. The intricate relationship with Western nations, spearheaded by the US, presents restrictions on investment opportunities in China. Moreover, China grapples with ongoing trade tensions with the US, particularly concerning computer processors and materials. Additionally, China’s ally, Russia, confronts a complex situation due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These factors contribute to the complex economic landscape that China must navigate in its pursuit of sustainable growth.
Annual economic growth has accelerated somewhat, especially compared to the previous year, when growth was hampered by COVID-19 restrictions. Despite the slowdown, the Chinese economy is still expected to reach or exceed the government’s target, expanding by around 5% this year.
However, economists argue that after an initial burst of economic activity earlier in 2023, momentum has been lost, and China needs significant measures to restore confidence and revive the economy.
In the second quarter of 2023, the Chinese economy witnessed a meager growth of 0.8% compared to the preceding quarter, as revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics of China. This lackluster performance can be attributed to multiple factors such as feeble retail sales, constrained investment in the private sector, and a decline in exports. Compounding these challenges, the recent interest rate hikes by major central banks around the world have further exacerbated the difficulties faced by these sectors.
Although the last quarter saw annualized growth of 6.3%, it fell short of economists’ expectations. It is important to recognize that this increase is largely a result of the significant contraction experienced in the same quarter of the previous year during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. This comparison underscores the ongoing difficulties in achieving a strong and consistent growth trajectory in the current economic climate.
Hopes that Chinese consumers would lead the economic recovery have been dampened, as demand for exports weakens due to global inflation and rising borrowing costs in Western countries.
Recent figures show households’ reluctance to spend, with marginal retail sales growth in June. Concerns about jobs, the broader economy, and the lasting impacts of the pandemic contribute to cautious consumer behavior. Also, the investment in fixed assets saw minimal growth, primarily due to the real estate sector’s weakness, while the industrial production expanded modestly.
China’s recovery differs from other major economies. While the US and Europe experienced rapid consumer spending after reopening, China’s inflation remained at zero in June, lower than in Japan known for economic stagnation.
At the same time, the World Bank predicts a slowdown in global economic growth, with aggressive measures by central banks to curb inflation. The bank expects the global economy to expand by 2.1% this year, down from 3.1% in 2022.
To support the faltering recovery, Chinese authorities must take substantial actions. While the central bank has reduced interest rates, economists argue that more needs to be done. Direct assistance to households, such as financial support and tax cuts, can boost consumption, create jobs, and restore confidence.
Chinese officials have shown caution in implementing large-scale relief measures to avoid excessive debt. Beijing also seeks to prioritize measures that prepare the country for rising tensions and geopolitical conflicts with the rest of the world.
In conclusion, the challenges faced by the Chinese economy in the second quarter of 2023 highlight the urgent need for revitalization. With minimal growth, high unemployment among young people, and various economic hurdles, it is crucial for China to take decisive action to stimulate its economy. The revival of Chinese growth is not only important for the country itself but also holds significant implications for the global economy.
China, as the world’s second-largest economy, plays a vital role in driving global growth. Its economic vitality has the potential to provide a much-needed boost and help prevent a potential global recession. As the United States and Europe also grapple with economic uncertainties, a strong and robust Chinese economy can provide stability and mitigate the risk of a broader downturn.
Furthermore, China’s interconnectedness with the global supply chain means that its economic health has far-reaching implications. The demand for Chinese exports has a direct impact on other countries’ economic performance, particularly those heavily reliant on trade with China. A resurgent Chinese economy can provide a positive ripple effect on other economies, helping to foster a more balanced and sustainable global economic landscape.


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Content Consumption and Consumer Sentiment Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic
In our new report, ‘Content Consumption & Consumer Sentiment Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic’ (available here), Channel Factory surveyed more than 1000 US consumers to share their YouTube activity in the recent weeks of social distancing as a result of the COVID-19 virus.
Channel Factory found that the vast majority of consumers go to YouTube to improve their mood and find uplifting, helpful and educational content. The survey also found that respondents felt that YouTube offers more contextually relevant content based on what they wanted to see.
While 33% of respondents go to YouTube for COVID-19 content specifically, many more are watching a broad variety of mood-boosting videos:
When polled regarding the influencers they’re seeking out the most in recent weeks, while 30% of consumers were looking for authoritative news experts, more people were seeking out music (46%) and comedy (40%) influencers in their on-platform video and channel browsing journey.
The report also shows that while fewer YouTube viewers have seen brands running ads next to content that makes them look bad – a sure sign that brand safety on the platform is improving, there is a significant opportunity for brands to find positive and uplifting contextually targeted inventory on YouTube.
From fitness and comedy to cooking and crafting, YouTube’s surge in traffic goes far beyond topics directly related to the pandemic. When asked specifically about YouTube advertising, survey respondents were very positive about the role advertising plays on the site:
Consumer expectations of contextually aligned advertising can be added to the extensive engagement data and field tests (as recently as the one put out by GumGum last month) bearing out the importance of contextually matching ads to the content they run on.


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Today’s battery-based vehicles tend to be small sedans, coupes and hatchbacks. But that’s beginning to change with high-end products like the Tesla Model S and, more recently, the Model X.
Tesla will soon have some challengers in the battery-electric SUV market including Audi, set to debut an all-electric ute in 2018. And Jeep is getting ready to weigh in, as well, according to brand boss Michael Manley.
While Fiat Chrysler’s SUV division isn’t ready to release specific plans, Manley told TheDetroitBureau.com that new battery-based products are “under active development,” and other company sources indicate they aren’t very far from launch.
The move may come as a surprise to those who think of electric propulsion as primarily something used on slow and wimpy products. The fact is that battery technology actually has a number of advantages that are suitable for off-road use, said Manley, starting with lots of low-end torque.
“I feel really confident about the abilities it brings to Jeep,” he said during a conversation at the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles proving grounds in Chelsea, Michigan.
That low-end torque is more useful than lots of horsepower when slowly grinding over a rough trail, explained Manley. And depending upon the design of the powertrain, electric motors can do a very effective job of shifting torque to just the wheels that need it.
(Jeep heading for another annual sales record. Click Here for more.)
Acura is demonstrating that with the electric version of its Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive system. On the Acura NSX, two motors up front provide nimble torque vectoring to help the sports car steer through tight corners. The powertrain layout is reversed on the Acura MDX, with separate motors on each wheel helping improve traction on slick pavement and trails.
Jeep’s embrace of electrification reflects the rapid evolution of battery powertrains. “It has developed dramatically, even in just the last two years,” said Manley, and will continue to evolve at a rapid pace.
Fiat Chrysler has been slow to adopt battery powertrain technology, launching its first pure EV, a version of the Fiat 500, only a couple years ago. It is now rolling out its first plug-in hybrid, a version of the all-new Chrysler Pacifica minivan.
(Fiat Chrysler sending out fix for recalled eShifters on Jeeps, sedans. For more, Click Here.)
Reading between the lines of Manley’s comments, it appears that Jeep may eventually offer several different types of battery-based technology, including conventional hybrids, plug-ins and pure battery-electric models.
The same is true for the broader FCA family of products. And that reflects the reality of a rapidly changing regulatory environment.
“We will have to incorporate electrification” if Jeep and its sibling brands expect to continue selling in a number of key markets, notably China and Europe.
Desperate to solve the country’s endemic air pollution problems, Chinese regulators have been putting a growing emphasis on electric propulsion, and the rules are becoming quite “stringent,” said Manley, who also heads Asian region operations for FCA. “It will be impossible to achieve our sales targets in China,” he added, “without a sizable segment of our products being (so-called) new energy vehicles.”
In Europe, meanwhile, there is a growing push for electrification as diesel power begins to lose favor. German regulators are pushing for plans that would require all new vehicles sold there by 2020 to be zero-emission models.
With those two markets moving towards battery power, it only makes sense to share new electric propulsion systems in other parts of the world, including the U.S., where plug-ins and BEVs will help meet the tough 54.5 mpg corporate average fuel economy standard going into effect in 2025, explained Manley.
At the moment, battery-based vehicles make up only a tiny share of the global fleet, but Manley said he expects such models to become “larger percentage of the mix over the next five to 10 years…definitely in the double-digits and maybe 15% to 20%.”
(Death of Star Trek actor raises concern about Jeep shifter. Click Here for the story.)


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When Evergreen Solar Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Aug. 15, the company cited several market conditions that have impacted business, including a drop in silicon pricing, significant global capacity expansion and an end to industry subsidies in Germany and other key markets.
The company's troubles could force it to give back money it received in the form of tax breaks from the state of Massachusetts, according to a National Public Radio report.
The news could cast further doubt on the usefulness subsidies provide to the renewable-energy market.
The industry is struggling with a supply glut created over the past two to three years when subsidies in key European markets, namely Germany and Italy, drove demand, says Gordon Johnson, an alternative-energy analyst with Axiom Capital Management Inc.
"If you were a solar panel manufacturer everything you produced you could effectively sell, and the economics on this stuff at the time were such that you were basically getting paid back for the equipment you were investing in a matter of three to four months," Johnson says. "And you were getting return on capital of 200% to 300%."
But Germany and Italy have begun rolling back these subsidies, known as feed-in tariffs, significantly reducing demand and creating excess supplies.
Demand in Italy, the second-largest global solar market, will likely decline by approximately 19% this year, Johnson says. Meanwhile, supplies are expected to grow by nearly 100% because manufacturers ramped up capacity in 2010, he says.
Johnson says he expects more solar-panel manufacturers to file for bankruptcy in the coming years, including some larger companies.
"This is one of the most oversupplied industries I've ever seen," Johnson says. "Evergreen is just the tip of the iceberg."


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Last week, Jordan Brand set up shop at Spring Studios in NYC’s Tribeca neighborhood to officially present their upcoming footwear for the Spring season. Air Jordan Retros, new colorways of the Air Jordan 32, and Russell Westbrook’s first signature shoe, the Jordan Why Not Zer0.1, are all confirmed to release from now through March. Of course there’s much more beyond what’s pictured here; Jordan Brand is set to release its official collaboration with Levi’s on Wednesday, January 17th, the Black Cement 3s are scheduled for February 17th, and more is certainly in store for All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. See the preview below and chime in with what you think is the best of the bunch.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High “Gym Red” – A reinterpretation of the classic Bulls colors. Available February 23rd.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High “Game Royal” – Another classic look hits the ’85 classic.
Air Jordan 9 “All-Star” – This classic silhouette gets dressed in white and black for the City Of Flight series. Available February 3rd.
Air Jordan 9 “PE” – Age-old Player Exclusives of the past are revived. Available March 10th.
Air Jordan 10 “I’m Back” – Jordan Brand honors Michael Jordan’s surprise return to the game in 1995. Available March 18th.
Air Jordan 13 “Olive” – For the first time ever, Jordan Brand utilizes the “Olive” colorway on a different Air Jordan. Available January 20th.
Air Jordan 13 “Hyper Royal” – Another clean take on this ’98 classic, loosely resembling an older Player Exclusive. Available March 3rd.
Air Jordan 18 “Royal” – This original Air Jordan model from Michael Jordan’s final year in the NBA comes back for the first time. Available January 22nd.
Air Jordan 32 “Pure Platinum”
Jordan Why Not Zer0.1 “Two Way” – This new colorway of Russell Westbrook’s signature shoe reflects his dominance on both ends. Available February 15th.


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Greystones Cancer Support has become the latest charity to benefit from Aldi’s Community Grants programme, receiving a €500 grant from Aldi’s Greystones store team.
The €500 grant was presented to Anne Ivory, Mary O’Neill, Kathleen Kelleher and Gileen Morris of Greystones Cancer Support by Katarzyna Pakula, Aldi Greystones’ ‘Charity Champion’.
Aldi’s Community Grants programme helps fund local charities and organisations that contribute vital work and services in their local communities. Each local charity supported is chosen by Aldi employees, enabling them to help the local good causes they are passionate about.
Commenting Tomas Lisauskas, Aldi Greystones Store Manager said: “Our store team are proud to have chosen Greystones Cancer Support for our Community Grants donation. Providing people affected by cancer with transport to hospitals, social outings, support and guidance makes a huge difference.”
“Being part of and investing in local communities is something that Aldi is committed to and we are delighted to be able to make this contribution.”
Operating four stores in County Wicklow, Aldi is deeply involved in the local community. Through its partnership with FoodCloud, its stores in County Wicklow have donated over 25,500 meals to local charities to date, while as Foróige’s lead sponsor since 2015, it has helped support initiatives including the Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards and the Aldi Foróige Junior Baking Competition.


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BlackBerry agrees to $4.7 billion sale
TORONTOBlackBerry has agreed to a $4.7 billion sale to a group led by its largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., after new smartphones failed to turn the company around.
BlackBerry Ltd. said Monday that a letter of intent has been signed and that its shareholders will receive $9 in cash for each share. The deal comes just days after the Canadian company announced plans to lay off 40 percent of its global workforce.
The BlackBerry, pioneered in 1999, was once the dominant smartphone for on-the-go business people and other consumers. It could be so addictive that it was nicknamed “the CrackBerry.”
But then came a new generation of competing smartphones, starting with Apple’s iPhone in 2007. The BlackBerry, that game-changing breakthrough in personal connectedness, suddenly looked ancient.
Although BlackBerry was once Canada’s most valuable company with a market value of $83 billion in June 2008, the stock has plummeted from more than $140 a share to less than $9, giving it a market value of $4.6 billion, just short of Fairfax’s offer.
Analysts say that although BlackBerry’s hardware business is not worth anything, its service business and patents are still valuable.
Fairfax head Prem Watsa, who owns 10 percent of BlackBerry, stepped down as a board member because of potential conflicts when BlackBerry announced it was considering a sale last month. The company would no longer be traded publicly once the sale goes through.
BlackBerry shares plunged 17 percent after the company announced Friday a loss of nearly $1 billion and layoffs of 4,500 workers. It gained 9 cents, or 1.1 percent, to close at $8.82 Monday.
The company said it will negotiate and execute a definitive transaction agreement with Fairfax by Nov. 4.
During that time, BlackBerry is entitled to continue to find other buyers, but if BlackBerry backs out of the deal, it would owe Fairfax about $157 million.
Anthony Michael Sabino, a professor at St. John’s University’s business school, said going private removes the burden of pleasing shareholders with short-term results, just as Michael Dell hopes to do with Dell Inc.
“In all honesty, its fate is still uncertain, but at least now it has a fighting chance,” Sabino said.


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Details of Oppo’s upcoming smartphone, the Oppo R11S have been leaked. The smartphone is expected to be launched on November 2 in China and ahead of its launch, press renders have revealed the look and design of the smartphone.
Going by the images, the R11S will come with a FullView display. The smartphone can be expected with trimmed bezels and it seems that the home button will be missing from the device. The rear of the R11S reveals a dual camera setup with an LED flash and a fingerprint sensor.
It seems that the Oppo R11S will come with an all-metal body and will be available in Black, Red and Gold colour variants. The photos of the device also reveal a micro-USB port at the bottom, which is placed between the 3.5mm audio jack and a single speaker grille. We can see the power button and the SIM slot along the right edge of the smartphone, whereas the volume buttons are placed on the left side.
An Antutu benchmark leak has also revealed some specs of the R11S. The smartphone is expected to come with a 6-inch Full HD+ FullView display at a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. It is rumoured to be powered by an Octa-core Snapdragon 660 SoC with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage, which users should be able to expand further using a microSD card.
The dual camera setup is expected to sport 20MP+20MP sensors with an LED flash. It could feature a 20MP front-facing camera as well. The Oppo R11S is rumoured to be powered by a 3205mAh battery and run on Android 7.1.1 Nougat.


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Despite strict travel regulations, Chinese companies can be present at exhibitions in Nuremberg. This is made possible by hybrid solutions and teamwork between NürnbergMesse staff in Shanghai and Nuremberg.
With the IWA OutdoorClassics, the starting signal was given at the beginning of March for presence fairs 2022 at the Nuremberg Exhibition Center. Among the total of 856 exhibitors from 53 countries, 21 companies from China were also on site in a joint stand. The "Chinese Pavilion" showed that, thanks to the digital transformation of NürnbergMesse and the flexibility of all those involved, successful participation in presence exhibitions is possible even under difficult conditions.
After participating in the exhibition in Nuremberg, the Chinese exhibitors were threatened with three weeks of quarantine - too high a hurdle. So that they could still present their new products in Nuremberg, they found two solutions together with NürnbergMesse: While 18 exhibitors had themselves represented by their partners from Europe and North America, three exhibitors opted for a hybrid model.
Here, the exhibitors were present with their products without being physically present themselves. Initial contact with visitors was made by trained booth staff, and all on-site questions were answered via video chat by staff in China during the show. "The exhibitors with remote participation achieved a good result with the support of the staff on site," knows Ivy Kang, Assistant Marcom Manager at NürnbergMesse China. "The impact exceeded expectations, and they plan to use this service again in 2023 if travel restrictions prevent their in-person participation again then."
The Chinese Pavilion was organized by the subsidiary NürnbergMesse China. As a service provider, they standardized the construction planning of the exhibition stands, supported the exhibitors in the preparation of their exhibition appearance and in the forwarding of the exhibition goods. At "normal times", the colleagues from NürnbergMesse China would be in Nuremberg during the construction and the exhibition to look after the exhibitors. That was not feasible this time.
"That's where we came in," says Annika Bernhardt from the International Pavilions department. "After our colleagues helped us several times in the past two years with the implementation of joint stands of the German federal government and the German states in Shanghai, we didn't have to think twice when NürnbergMesse China asked us for support. At IWA, I myself took over the support of the Chinese exhibitors on the last set-up day and during the exhibition. The personal exchange and the daily presence with the exhibitors were positively received and made it possible to quickly clarify any questions that arose." This support will continue at events with Chinese participation as long as the strict travel regulations remain in force.
Other exhibitions at the Nuremberg site did not have to do without Chinese Pavilions either. At the unique "Summer Edition" of BIOFACH and VIVANESS at the end of July, NürnbergMesse China drummed up publicity for the upcoming BIOFACH CHINA in November on a stand with six co-exhibitors, while a hostess introduced the other companies to the visitors. The hand-in-hand principle also worked for two other Chinese booths with staff from the USA and Italy respectively and support from colleagues from the International Pavilions department.
The track record in spring and summer was rounded off by the participation of Chinese companies at EUROGUSS and embedded world (five exhibitors each) and FENSTERBAU FRONTALE (eight exhibitors), another "Summer Edition".